Religious imperialism and African religion: In search of religious tolerance

Abstract

The thrust of this paper is driven by the current reactions of Pentecostal Christians to the African religious (AR) material elements in some parts of Nigeria. There have been occasions of touching the AR artefacts and countermining of AR by these Pentecostal pastors. One of the most disrespected religions which receive discourteous treatments in Africa and by Africans of other faith is African religion. Africa religion (AR) stands out to be a prominent dimension that permeated the cosmological, metaphysical and epistemology comprehension of life by the ancient Africans. The religious experiences of this religion fashioned a spirituality of social relation, communal relationship, and opened-mindedness. Almost all descendants of African societies had a taste of this religion’s spirituality. However, colonialism cum religious imperialism staged a colossal presence with disregard to its gross to the African Religion. In effect, in modern African society, when most Africans pick-up a new religion (whether Islam or Christianity) in sprightliness they treat with contempt the material elements of AR, subvert its beliefs, divest its essence and, retard its progress. This paper will argue that religious imperialism is moral error which demands a moral virtue of religious tolerance. Before arriving at this conclusion, it looked into the nature of religious imperialism and African religion; analyses the Pentecostal attitudes towards AR; a brief overview of AR.